Lamp socket



Dec. 3, 1929. G; w. GooDRl-DGE 'r A1. 1,738,366

LAMP SOCKET Filed Jan. 9, 1924 INVENTORS GILEsE/QT W. Go R/DGQ ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES GILBERT W. GOODRIDGE, F FAIRFIELD, AND GEORGE B. 'I1-10111116, OF BRIDCLEFORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE BRYANT ELECTRICGOPANY, 0l BRIDGE-PGRT, CONNECTECUT, A CORPORATION OF CUNNEGTICUT tft?? LAME SOCKET Application filed January 9, 1924.

Our invention relates to lamp sockets, and particularly to devices of the candle socket type. Among the objects of our invention are (1) to provide a socket of simple and inexpensive construction, having an associated readily detachable support which facilitates the wiring and mounting of the socket; (2) to provide for the screw shell of the socket a removable insulating jacket and a readily detachable abutment therefor which may be discarded when the jacket is not used; (3) to improve the socket construction in various details which will be clear from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a socket structure in which our invention is embodied inone form;

Fig. 2 is an inverted section on the line 2-2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 isa section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, but looking in the opposite direction;

Fig. l is a perspective of the removable abutment washer detached; y

Fig. 5 is la perspective of the supporting nipple detachethand Fig. 6 is a plan view of the sheet metal blank from which thenipple is formed.

The invention, yin the embodimentthereof illustrated, comprises an insulating base 15, preferably `in the form offa one-piece porcelain button. `Mounted atrone end of'the button is the usualscrewshell receptacle contact 16, the base Harige 17 of which rests upon the button and issecured thereto by theoverlying yoke 18 engaged `by securing screws 19 which pass through the button.` An integral wire terminal lug 20 offset fronrthe yoke enters a lateral recess in the button to accommodate the wire and binding screw 21. The center contact 22, located between barrier ribs 23, is arranged centrallyv within the screw shell, while its base 24 is integral with an offset terminal lug 25 `which lies in a lateral channel in the button 15 diametrically opposite the channel `provided forv the reception of the screw shell terminal lug 20. The cen ter contact is clamped to the insulating body by the screw 26 piercing the button 15.

The `two lateral wire terminal channels communicate with. transverse `wire receiving Serial No. 635,215.

stom of which passes through the channel 80 and engages one of the lugs 33 of the support `29 toclamp the latter to the base.

It `is to be noted that the well 28 and the flat 31 afford surfaces rwhich entend parallel with the socket axis and through which the transverse channel opens. The channel is also open at its lower end. These surfaces are for engagement with the attaching ends of the support 29, the head of screw 32 engaging the flat surface 31, and the lug 33, through which the screw is threaded, engaging the surface of well 28. Threading of the screw into lug32 draws the head of the screw and the lug firmly against these engaging surfaces.

In the form here shown the support 29 is an elongated tubular nipple, one end being `out away to form a pair of lugs 33, one of whiclris tapped to receive the clamping screw 32. In assembled position the lugs 33 enter the well28. It is obvious that upon setting up the screw 32, the rugged side wall of the base through which the channel 30 is formed, is ffirmly clamped between the head of the screw andthe lug 33 engaged thereby. The socket body and support are thus firmly united.

The wire channels 27 are so located that i they open to the well 28 at points between the adj acentside margins of the lugs 38, the gaps `between the lugs being of suflicient extent to afford ample clearance for the passage of the wires from the well 28 to the channels 27 leading to the wire terminals. In order to insulate the center contact securing screw 26 from the wires and lugs 33, a collar 341- is formed in the base surrounding the seat for the head of the screw 26. Preferably, the latter is further insulated by waxing (not shown).

Resting on the shoulders 35 of the sup-` Cil but the aperture is non-circular and its opposite inner margins 38 overlie and rest upon theshoulders 35. The over-all diameter of the washer is slightly greater than that of the base 15, so that its outer margin provides an annular shoulder 39 for the support of the usual insulating jacket 40 for the screw shell 16. Slots 41 are preferably cut in the washer,

so that the latter may be readily sprung over the clamping screw 32 and discarded when the acket 40 is not us`edfor example, when the encasing candle (not shown) has an internal Y diameter too small to accommodate the jacket and washer. l' While the support 29 in the form here shown may be formed from tubular stock,

' we prefer to shape it from a sheet metal blank such as 42 (Fig. 6) which may be readily pressed to shape.; A boss 43 is preferably formed up from the Inetal'of the blank and :tapped toY receive the set screw. 44 by which the support is fixed in position on the wire 'conduit 45. By locating'the set screw 44 dif ametrically opposite the meeting edges 46 of the formed blank, the setting up of the screw against the wire conduit has a tendency to fjsprea'd the tube and thus causes the threads 47 thereof to bind those ofthe conduit with vexceptional effectiveness.

To wire the socket, the jacket 40 (if it is to libe used) is lifted to expose the clamping screw 32, and the latter turned out to free thesupport from the socket body. The nipple, with 4o" washer 36 attached (if the washer isto be retained) is then passed over the lead wires Vand screwed'upo'n the wire conduit, the set screw 44 being turned down to fix the support in position. No objectionable twisting of the wires is possible during this adjustment of the support on the wireconduit.

kAfter the support has been thus secured in position Vthe wires'are separated and bent in opposite directions through the passageways afforded between the lugs 33. The ends of theL wires are preferablyynow` stripped and trimmed to proper length, this operationbe-` 'ing Aconveniently accomplished since the l socket body is not in the way.

The support and wires having been thus secured and prepared for the reception of Y the socket body, the latter is again placed upon the Support and the clamping screw v32 turned down to hold the parts firmly together.

tached to the bindingscrews, and the jacket The bared ends of thewires are atv'40 (if used) screwed down upon the washer 36, thus housing-in the wires and terminals. If the` candle tube which surrounds the socket in the completed installation,is of such slight internal diameter that the acket 40 and washer 36 must be discarded, the wiring operation is the same, except that the jacket 40 instead of being merely lifted to expose the clamping screw 32, is drawn ofi the shell 16 and thrown away; while the washer 36, after the support has been detached from the socket, is sprung over the screw 32 and similarly thrown away. It is customary to supply both the jacket/and the flexible washer with the socket, but it will be readily understood that they are not necessary to the proper mounting and wiring of the socket. then they are discarded, and a close fitting candle tube is used for the installation, the tube should be of insulation, or at least lined with insulation.

Since the main function of the washer 36 is to form an abutment for the jacket 40,

although it has a further value, when used, K

of housing-in the conductors at the supported'end of the socket, it is readily possible to provide a jacket abutment in other ways. Thus, lugs 4S (Fig. 6) may be formed on the blank between the lugs 33, and bent outward to extend slightly beyond the periphery of the socket body to form such an abutment. To 'remove the projecting ends of the lugs when desired, it is possible either to bend them'down out of obstructing position, or to break ofil their ends, the lugs being notched or cross channelled at 49 for this purpose.

Various modifications in details will readily occur to those skilled in the art, which do not depart from what we claim as oui` invention.

lVe claim- 1. An electric'lamp socket, having a base recessed at one end to form a well and a transverse channel leading therefrom, in combination with a support adapted to enter said well, and a clamping screw carried by the support and adapted to laterally enter said channel.

j 2. An electric lamp socket comprising an insulating base, a screw shell socket contact at one end thereof, an insulating jacket surrounding said shell and base, a support having projecting lugs secured to the opposite end of the base, together with a washer resting on the support adjacent said lugs and projecting beyond the periphery of the socket to afford an end abutment for the insulating jacket.

3. An electric lamp socket having an insulating base recessed at one end within its marginsto receive a support, wire channels extending from said recess to the side margin of the base, a lateral seat on the base, a channel extending from said recess to said seat for the reception of a lateral clamping screw, thehead of which rests against said seat and the shank of which passes through said channel into engagement with the support to detachably clamp the latter to the socket base.

4. An electric lamp socket having an insulating base recessed Within its margins to receive a support, a barrier Within said recess to space said support from a currentcarrying element, a Wire channel extendingI from said recess to the margin of the hase, a seaton the side el the hase, and a channel extending from said recess to said seat for the accommodation of a lateral clamping screw.

5. An electric lamp socket comprising` an insulating; hase recessed at one end to form a central Well, and a channel leading theretrom to the side of the hase, a socket support comprising a lug; adapted to enter said Well, and means accommodated in said channel and extending 'from said lng to the side of the hase to detachably clamp the hase to the support.

(l. An electric lame socket comprising; an insulating button recessed on one tace to form a central Well, and a channel leading therefrom toward the periphery el the button, in combination With a readily detachable snpport having a lng adapted to enter said Well, and a clamping' screw engaging said lng and lying in said channel, the head of said screw engaging the button at the peripheral end oil' said channel and serving, on the setting up el' the screw, to clamn the lne' el the support to the button.

ln testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification.

GlLBERT Wl. GOODRlDGE. GEGRGE B. THMAS. 

